Thompson Runners Set for N.J. Festival
Monmouth Park will celebrate the 12th annual New Jersey Thoroughbred Festival, presented by the Malouf Auto Group, this Saturday, with 10 races featuring the best-of-the-best runners bred in the Garden State. And what would any New Jersey festival be without trainer J. Willard Thompson, whose connection to Monmouth Park dates back to the Harry S. Truman administration.
“I first came to Monmouth in 1952, riding steeplechase horses,” said Thompson from his base on the Monmouth Park backstretch. “It’s been a long time since then, a lot of changes. I’ve always supported the New Jersey-bred program and always will. This is home.”
Thompson, who owns Quiet Winter Farm in Colts Neck, will be represented by three entrants on Saturday’s card, including one each in the $60,000 Eleven North Handicap and the $60,000 New Jersey Breeders’ Handicap, which represent two of the four stakes races slated for the afternoon.
“Peri Whan’s going to need his running shoes,” said Thompson, who owns the 4-year-old gelding in the six furlong Jersey Breeders’ ‘Cap. “Rainbow Heir will definitely be tough. My horse got away slow in his last and just didn’t fire (Aug. 23 allowance here). He’s a solid horse, who’s usually right up on the pace, so hopefully a better break puts him in the hunt.”
From 18 lifetime starts for Peri Whan, 17 have come at Monmouth, good for a record of 4-4-5 and earnings of $185,597. The son of Defrere will have Pedro Cotto Jr. aboard on Saturday.
Earlier in the day Thompson will saddle Pinot Grigio in the Eleven North, which goes as the third race. The 5-year-old mare is already a stakes winner here this meet and has won five of her 27 lifetime starts.
“She had trouble in her last, too,” Thompson said. “She must have gotten something kicked in her eyes and as soon as that happened she stopped running. We cleaned them out really good after the race and she was fine. It just wasn’t her day.”
That race was the Red Cross Stakes on June 22, against open company. Prior to that she dominated her foes in the six furlong Open Mind Handicap against fellow J-breds, cruising to a three-length score. The Eleven North, also at six furlongs, will mark Pinot Grigio’s fourth start of the 2014 Monmouth meet. The daughter of Unbridled Jet will be piloted by Abel Castellano Jr.
The two other stakes races on Saturday’s card will be the $60,000 Jersey Girl Handicap, at a mile and a sixteenth, and the $60,000 Charles Hesse III Handicap, also at a mile and a sixteenth.
Gates open Saturday at 11:30 a.m., with first post set for 12:50 p.m.
T-SHIRT GIVEAWAY TOPS SATURDAY’S NJ THOROUGHBRED FESTIVAL EVENTS
Saturday’s New Jersey Thoroughbred Festival, presented by the Malouf Auto Group, will give fans a little something extra when they come through the gates. All paid admissions will receive a commemorative long-sleeved T-shirt, featuring the official NJ Thoroughbred Festival logo.
In addition, a full-slate of vendors and activities will be set up, including representation by the Monmouth Conservation Foundation, Mosh Pets, New Jersey 4-H, Rutgers Equine Science Center, Second Call Thoroughbred Adoption and Placement, New Jersey Farm Bureau and Thorofan.
A “lifesize” racehorse and jockey cutout will be setup along the Grandstand steps for kids to have photos taken as memorable race calls from famous New Jersey-bred horses are played throughout the day.
Gates open Saturday at 11:30 a.m., with first post set for 12:50 p.m. For more information, visit www.monmouthpark.com or www.njbreds.com.
Source: Monmouth Park